title: Herpes Simplex Virus-2 infection amongst urban male population in Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus-2 (HSV-2) infection among males in six major cities of Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional behavioural and biological survey of urban male population aged 16-45 years was conducted in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Quetta to measure the prevalence of five sexually transmitted infections and assess sexual behaviours. Respondents were selected through a multistage sampling technique. In each city 10 blocks demarcated by the Population Census Organization were selected based on probability proportional to socio-economic status. In each block 40 men were selected through systematic sampling with a random start. In total 2400 men were administered a behavioural questionnaire and 2396 provided biological specimens for laboratory testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This paper discusses the overall and city wise prevalence of HSV-2 infection. The overall prevalence of HSV-2 infection in the six cities was 3.4 percent (95% CI 2.8-4.3). City wise the highest prevalence was reported in Karachi 6 percent (95% CI 4.1-8.8), followed by Lahore and Quetta at 4.3 percent (95% CI 2.7-6.7), and Faisalabad at 2.5 percent (95% CI 1.4-4.5). The lowest prevalence was in Rawalpindi at 1.8 percent (95% CI 0.9-3.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Empirical evidence from this study suggests that there is city wise variation in the prevalence of HSV-2 infection across the major cities in Pakistan. Based on possible link between HSV-2 and HIV, future HIV control strategies must also focus on the better management of HSV-2 infections in Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Population Council, House 7, Street 62, F-6/3, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ali Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wajid
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reichenbach
authors.forename: Mumraiz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult